A/n: Edited on 10/7/2019.
Disclaimer: I do not own TVD, or the lyrics shown. The lyrics is only shown to help put the right mood for the chapter. The only thing I do own is the plots I write for this story and the Original Characters I create.
Chapter 5: My Immortal
Mystic Falls
Present - January 18, 2011
The Gods must be playing a very cruel joke on him, Klaus assumed as he looked up at the clear blue sky. The sun shone down upon the funeral in a mocking gesture, reminding him of Caroline's light. He wanted everything around him to reflect the darkness that he felt within.
There was no eulogy. The arrangements for a funeral were prepared in the few days that Klaus had Caroline's body.
His mind drifted back just before he had left for the funeral.
After she left the room, Klaus began to ready himself for the service. He looked at himself in the mirror as he straightened his solid black tie and slid on the black suit jacket - courtesy of Elijah - over his crisp white dress shirt. He looked immaculate with no cracks in the armor, just like he wanted himself to appear. No use for weakness. He had no room for it, especially not today.
Black was all that he felt inside right now. There was nothing left, but darkness. Caroline was the last line. The last hope of retaining even a portion of his humanity died with her. The only thing that could bring him back was to bring her back, but that was impossible. Even in a supernatural sense, the laws couldn't be bent to grant his wishes. The world isn't that giving. That kind of hope only exists in fairy tales and miracles.
He couldn't allow himself to hope.
He scanned over at his suit. It didn't feel right and didn't feel like him, but his normal attire would not do for a funeral, especially for her funeral.
Glancing one last time in the mirror he sighed, about to do what he was dreaded the most. Klaus paused, looking down at Caroline. He had no words to describe what he was feeling. It was all too much.
His humanity was officially gone.
The hybrid gently cradled Caroline into his, flashing over to the porch of the Forbes' residence in just a few minutes. Just standing on this porch brought back so many memories. Memories that he wanted to push down and never think of them again. He shut them out.
He called out for Caroline's mother. "Sheriff Forbes?"
This was the first time he had seen Liz out of her uniform. Instead, she wore a simple black dress. Her weary and bloodshot eyes fell onto her daughter's lifeless body; her shoulders trembling after seeing Caroline in such a state. She couldn't speak to him. No words could come out. She just pointed to the interior of the house, giving Klaus permission to enter, her daughter still gripped tightly in his arms.
When he reached Caroline's room, the sound of the older woman's frantic heartbeat and sobbing over the loss of her daughter was all he could hear. With the click of Liz's bedroom door, Klaus figured that she was coming to terms with the cruel reality that her precious baby girl was gone.
He tenderly laid Caroline down on her bed, taking in her natural beauty one last time before he had to leave.
Observing the pale yellow room, everything about it screamed Caroline. Everything had its place; a dress was laying over her desk chair as if she was still coming home to change into it. His eyes were drawn to the nightstand, and the small wooden box sitting on top of it. He felt as if he was prying, but something was pulling him over to the box. He picked it up and felt the weight of it in his hands before lifting the lid. Inside were a few trinkets, but what caught his attention was the rolled up piece of parchment and a velvet covered jewelry box.
He sat down on the bed at Caroline's feet and unrolled the paper, noticing that it was the same drawing he gave to her the night after the ball. He read over his own handwriting.
Thank you for your honesty, Klaus.
Caroline had always been honest with him; it was like a breath of fresh air compared to how others acted around him, but in this moment though, he felt like he was suffocating. He could only show this now, alone in Caroline's room, as she lay next to him, cold and still.
Setting the drawing down, he reached next for the velvet covered box. He knew what was inside without even opening it, the white gold and diamond bracelet he had given her. Klaus stiffened as emotions tried clawing their way back into him. Unable to look at the reminder of better times with her, he clasped the diamond bracelet around her wrist. In one last act, he unfolded her hands, placing the rolled up drawing between them before setting her hand back on her chest. At least, at part of him could be buried with her.
These items were like a symbol that represented the last remnants of anything that made him human. Soon they would be under the dark cold earth, never to see the light of day again.
Just like Caroline would be.
Most of the town had showed up for Caroline's funeral, both humans and supernatural alike. The Salvatore brothers stood solemnly; Damon was trying to comfort Elena but just looked awkward while Stefan and Rebekah just stood holding hands. Bonnie was alone, standing beside her father, with grief and regret written on her face. Matt and Jeremy were in the back, looking on with sadness at the loss of Caroline. The only person missing was the most to blame. Tyler Lockwood.
Rudy Hopkins, Bonnie's father, stood up to begin the funeral when Liz was unable to compose herself. As mayor, he was glad to do a favor for the grief-stricken sheriff. When he left Bonnie alone to make his way to the podium, Jeremy stepped up beside her. Rudy stood in front of the glossy cherry wood coffin as everyone proceeded to take a seat.
"On behalf of Liz Forbes, I would like to thank you all for coming. I wish this town was gathered together for a less tragic reason, but today we lay to rest a beautiful girl who was taken from us before her time. I wish that I had more time to get to know the lovely young woman that Caroline had become, but by the turnout today, I can tell that she was loved by so many."
He bowed his head. "Let us share this moment of silence for all of those that we have lost too soon." Everyone fell quiet for a pause, before the mayor raised his head. "We will now begin with the laying of the roses." The local choirs started to lowly sing a hymn.
Before all the supernatural drama happened and ripped everyone apart, there was a time when Bonnie, Elena, and Caroline were just young girls, best friends, and not worrying about anything else besides normal teenager things. Elena and Bonnie vaguely recalled a time in English class when they had to write a report explaining what flowers they would be and why, a surprise assignment from the teacher as punishment for the class talking too much.
They only had one day to research and figure out which flower best represented them. The next day they all turned in their assignments.
Bonnie had chosen an orchid because it symbolizes refinement, thoughtfulness, and mature charm. Elena chose a gardenia, for it symbolized purity and sweetness; they also conveyed joy.
However, Caroline had chosen a rose. She was human at that time and still had insecurities that she hid well behind a confident exterior. All she ever wanted is what every other typical girl yearned for: to be wanted and loved. It really wasn't a selfish thing to wish for. The flower held more than just the sentimental meaning of love to Caroline; a rose was beautiful, but it is also has thorns to protect itself. If a person was worthy enough to get past these defenses, they could fully enjoy all the rose has to offer. This meaning only grew when she became a vampire.
A slow piano version of Don't You Worry Child by Swedish House Mafia played from the speakers at the service. It was one of Caroline's favorite songs, and the haunting notes flowed in the air as the melody of the piano touched every person standing in the small cemetery.
One by one, everybody in attendance came up to pay their respects and place a white rose on the wooden coffin. Elena and Bonnie came up together, holding on to the other for support. Matt, Stefan, and Jeremy were next, holding stoic expression. Surprisingly, Damon and Rebekah followed having enough decorum to look upset.
The last person to approach the coffin with a rose was Klaus. His heavy step left marking in the frost covered grass. He was silent and emotionless as he laid a white rose on the coffin, pausing for just a moment before walking off into the crowd of people.
No one, but Klaus noticed the stranger walk up to the burial plot, placing a rose on the wooden coffin. The woman's light brown curls blew in the chilled breeze as she touched the glossy surface of the vessel about to be lowered into the ground. She made no indication that she planned to stay for the rest of the service. When she turned to walk away, Klaus only caught a glimpse of the side of her face, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her eyes locked with his for a fraction of a second before she moved faster away from the grave site, disappearing into the crowd.
Time drifted by slowly as the service continued for another thirty minutes. Only when they prepared the coffin to be lowered into the ground did the crowd of town's people start to thin, leaving only her closest friends.
Matt left with April to go back to the Grill, which left only the supernatural people gathered by the fresh pile of earth. No one had the use for the cliches, but it uncannily fit the situation since the tension was so thick among them that it could be cut with a knife. Each side of a cause were wondering who would make the first move.
Klaus' eyes shone dangerously as he scanned the cemetery for the cowardly hybrid Tyler, but with no success. He must have left out of town. The spineless mutt ran away with his tail between his legs.
Elena's heart was filled with compassion and sympathy for Tyler. She didn't blame him for running away; he had lost so much in such a short amount of time. He had accidentally murdered his beloved girlfriend right after losing his mother. Elena could relate to his pain. This is why she understood his reasons for not showing up today.
Damon and Stefan's expressions hardened as Klaus approach the group. They both stood protectively in front of the doppelganger, having a pretty good idea whose blood Klaus was coming for. The thousand-year old hybrid wanted more than retribution or revenge; the only thing that would quench his anger was Elena Gilbert's head on a spit, but only after years of torture.
Rebekah watched her brother stalking across the frost covered ground; his movements were almost animal-like. After a thousand years with him, Rebekah found her brother rather predictable, but with recent events she was also fearful of his upcoming actions. The hope for a salvaged relationship with her brother was shot to hell when that daft hybrid mutt shoved a stake through Caroline's chest.
There was nothing left of him and nothing left for her here.
"I'm only going to ask you miscreants once so I suggest you don't waste my time with the lies you usually spew all over this town or else I will do something I definitely won't regret later," Klaus wanted to cut to the chase, his eyes glancing to Elena every few seconds just waiting for the right moment. "Where is he?"
"We don't know where he is. He fled town before we could stop him," Damon answered.
"Not the answer I was looking for. I'm not in a generous mood today, and seeing on how your scheming ways have left not only my brother dead, but also Caroline." His heart ached at the mere mention of her name, "I will ask one more time. Where is Tyler?" A dangerous tone laced his words as he scanned over the group, looking for the one who would crack first. "Come on, I thought you would want to avenge your dear friend Caroline, and aside from my sister, her death rests on all of your consciousness."
"Can we just do this another day Klaus? It's over and done. They haven't even buried the body yet." Stefan urged trying to get Klaus' focus off of Elena.
"Ah, Stefan the peacekeeper," Klaus smirked. "Tell me, if it was your brother in that coffin, would you put your revenge off for another day?" Klaus broke off a slab of granite from one of the headstones and smiled wickedly.
"Go fetch."
He threw the stone at lighting speed towards the opposing group, making them scatter from the falling debris. As they tried flashed towards the road that led out of the cemetery, Klaus blocked their path.
"Wrong move," he sneered, effortlessly grabbed the two Salvatore brothers by the back of the neck, bashed their heads together like cymbals. He threw them in opposite directions, one hitting a tree, the other another headstone.
"Jeremy, get the girls out of here!" Stefan yelled as he struggled to get up.
"Rebekah can take care of Elena and Bonnie, let me stay and help." The young hunter hated being left out of a fight. He had already killed an Original and felt his strength triple with the completion of his mark.
"Your ink is the only map to the cure, Van Helsing. Just take the girls and get the hell out of here!" Damon dislodged himself from the tree and joined back up with his brother, ready to make a joint assault on the enraged hybrid.
Jeremy reluctantly grabbed Bonnie and his sister, hoping that Rebekah would follow. Elena had other ideas though, pulling her arm free from Jeremy's grip. "I can't leave Damon, Klaus will kill him!"
"Elena! Stop! You can't go back there!" Jeremy shouted.
"Listen to him, please!" Bonnie begged.
Elena wouldn't listen though; she was always too stubborn. She watched with wide eyes as Damon tried to assail Klaus with a branch that broke off the tree. Just as the thick piece of wood was about to connect with the hybrid's head, a brownish-gray blur came out of nowhere, knocking the branch right out of Damon's hands.
"Damon!" Elena cried out before the world around her started to fade to black. Jeremy gave her a double dose of vervain through a syringe to her neck. Her body slumped to the ground as Bonnie and Rebekah came to carry her out of the cemetery.
"You take care of the witch!" Rebekah yelled over to Jeremy. "I'll carry the pain in the ass." She threw Elena over her shoulder before speeding for the exit.
"But—" Jeremy tried to argue, but the blonde was already gone, Elena's long hair trailing in the wind behind them. With a sigh, he grabbed Bonnie's hand again and went after the female Original.
Back at the cemetery-turned-battleground, Damon tried to push the heavy weight of the creature off of his body, but its sharp claws pinned him down, digging deeper into his wrists causing a painful moan to fall from his lips.
He looked up seeing sharp canines snapping close to his face, drool dripped from its mouth along with a menacing snarl that shook him to the core. He had never come across a werewolf with this much strength. He should at least be an equal with the wolf, but there was something different in the fierce glowing eyes that narrowed directly at him. The wolf was ready to make the kill, trying repeatedly to sink its teeth into the vampire, all the while Damon was still having a hard time dodging the venomous teeth.
"Heel."
Klaus only had to say one word and the wolf stopped attacking. The creature looked back at Klaus, lowly growling at him, not wanting to obey him. "Let him go. He's isn't worth our time."
The wolf growled down at Damon one more time before stalking off towards the hybrid. Getting up off the ground and quickly making his way to Stefan, who had a wooden branch endowed into his abdomen, Damon struggled to pull out the branch making Stefan groan in pain from the stinging wound.
Both of the brothers stared at the wolf that stood protectively in front of Klaus. They were confused as to who would actually be willing to protect Klaus other than his family. They had never seen this wolf around before, especially after the twelve hybrids were killed. The wolf was large and its brownish-gray fur bristled, standing up on end as its amber eyes watched their every move. This wolf was unlike any other they had ever encountered; it seemed to have intelligence and a hint of free will.
"So you had to call in your little bitch to come protect you?" Despite the disadvantage he was in, Damon couldn't help the insult that fell from his lips.
As if the wolf understood the insult, its lips curled back and ears went flat back against its head. Klaus chuckled to himself, running his fingers through its think fur. The wolf's body language relaxed slightly, but stilled itself to be ready to attack if needed.
"No need for such language, mate. She doesn't take too kindly to being called that. Then again, we aren't here to talk about my friend. You will find out where the coward is and you will bring him home," he said petting the she-wolf. "Make sure you also tell Elena and her brother that I am coming for them. It may not be tomorrow or the next day, but I will never forget what they took from me."
With the snap of his fingers, the she-wolf ran off after Klaus as he headed back to his estate.
New Orleans
Past - January 1910
This couldn't be happening to her, what had she ever done to deserve this curse? Caroline felt the dread coursed through her body as the black and gold eyes in the mirror just stared back at her. The double set of fangs tore through her gums, tingeing them with blood.
"Calm down, Caroline. You can do this. Just breathe," she repeated to herself over and over in order to calm herself down. Slowly, she felt the panic and uncertainty subside, causing her eyes and teeth to return to their normal state.
She didn't know what it meant to be a hybrid having only really known two of them. Tyler had never really opened up to her about it aside from the sire bond, and Klaus…he seemed to love everything about being a hybrid. Plus, she had resolved to not think of him.
Being a hybrid did help to answer the riddle of her being able to withstand sunlight. She also noticed that her hearing was more acute than when she was just a baby vampire. And though her eyesight had been close to perfect before, now she felt that she could see further and in finer detail. Caroline placed a hand on her chest, jumping slightly at the feeling of her rapidly beating heart. As a vampire, the heart pumped at a slower pace, not really needed to sustain life, but enough to move blood. However, now her heart ran as fast as a hummingbird's wings.
'Klaus likes hummingbirds,' Caroline's mind wandered, but she quickly shook the thought from her head getting back to the issue at hand.
"Why this and why me?" She asked no one in particular. All she wanted to do was pass on to the other side, now she was here in New Orleans, whenever here was, as a hybrid and more confused than ever.
Sighing heavily, she took the worn dress out of the dresser drawer, inspecting its size and condition, "It's not Anthropologie, but it will do."
At this point anything was better than the almost see-through nightgown that she had on and with some luck, she got into the dress all on her own and managed to look fairly decent. Next, she finger-combed the knots and tangles out of her hair as best she could, taking one last look in the mirror. Finally content with her appearance, she walked out of the room into the hallway. Her enhanced hearing picked up some voices coming from downstairs and with a last deep breath, she went to go meet up with Adele.
"Adelaide, how could you let her cook again? It is a waste of food." Maggie whined.
"She needed the practice, and it is not that bad." Adelaide will agree with Magdalena to some degree. The youngest witch in their group was not known for her cooking skills, but she was excelling with her magic.
"I just don't see why we all have to suffer to play in to her delusion of being perfect at everything," she grumbled under her breath.
Adelaide shook her head. "Don't patronize her, it's unflattering. She does not claim to be perfect, it's just your jealousy shining through." She smiled to herself as she heard Maggie scoff. "Go sit down and try to keep your thoughts to yourself. I need to check on our guest."
"Wonderful. Not only is that creature sleeping under our roof, but she will also be eating our food. This day just keeps getting better and better, and I for one will not be offering up my blood to that thing."
Before Adele could get on to Maggie again, footsteps were heard descending the staircase. The young witch saw Caroline walk into the room wearing one of Adele's old dresses. She hated to admit it, but the form fitted bodice did flatter Caroline's slight frame, though she curled her lip up at the sight of the bloodsucker's dirty bare feet.
"Caroline, I'm glad you decided to join us. Please sit, Charlene is almost done preparing our meal." Adele mustered her most motherly smile, trying to reassure the newcomer.
Caroline returned Adele's kind smile, but was still unsure about Maggie. The dark haired witch was still looking at her with so much disdain that Caroline almost felt her skin burn with the amount of hate that rolled off of Maggie.
"Breakfast is served."
The girl that strolled into the room holding a tray of food in her hands was beautiful, blonde, and looked even younger than Maggie. 'This must be Charlene,' Caroline mused.
"Thank you Char, everyone take your seats and we will begin." The eldest witch said as she took the spot next to Caroline, hoping that her proximity would make things easier for her. With a sharp look across the table, Maggie took her seat, pressing her lips together in an effort to hold her tongue. Charlene finished plating up the food and passed them out around the table.
The young witch sat across from Caroline and this gave the new hybrid a chance to really take in blonde witch. There seemed to be a different air about her that Caroline had not noticed in any other witch, not that Caroline had a lot of experience with witches, but she had been around enough of them, especially recently. Adelaide held a persona of fearlessness and motherly protection, Magdalena's short temper and callous words were enough of a warning to stay away, but Charlene was different.
"Caroline, this is Charlene Davis. She's another one of my students," Adele introduced Caroline to her.
Charlene was more laid-back than most witches, and since Caroline was never one to shy away from anything, she decided to be her normal cheerful self. "It's nice to meet you, Charlene."
"Likewise Caroline," Charlene answered back with a genuine smile. "I hope you won't my mind my cooking. I tend to get a little creative with the spices."
"I'm sure it's fine," Caroline looked down at her plate, not really sure what to expect having never tasted Louisiana cooking before. "What is this exactly?"
"It's doubtful she even knows," Maggie stated sarcastically. "Knowing her, it's probably poisoned." Maggie knew that Charlene hated being accused of something she didn't do, so the dark haired witch took every opportunity to get jabs in.
Charlene's light blue eyes flared up as she glared at the other witch. "Perhaps I only poisoned yours, I do recall putting extra cayenne on your plate."
It was then Magdalena violently spit her food. "How could you — you know I'm allergic to that!" Maggie snapped.
"What can I say?" Char spoke coolly. "My hand must have slipped."
"I can't believe you!" The dark-skinned witch jumped up from her chair and ran from the room desperate to get the taste of peppers out of her mouth. Charlene snickered to herself.
Once Maggie was out of the room, Adelaide looked down disgusted at the half chewed food that was spewed out over the table. "Did you really put that cayenne in her food or were you just jesting?"
Charlene gave Adele a half ashamed smile. "No, not really, but I wished I had."
Caroline tried to suppress the giggle that was bubbling up at their banter, but she failed. She at least slapped her have over mouth and had the decency to look embarrassed.
Adele shot the young witch a disapproving glance, to which Charlene answered. "What? She had it coming."
"Trust me Char, as much as I would like to put Maggie in her place from time to time, the squabbles between the two of you will put me into an early grave." It was times like this that Adele wondered why she even took in the two girls, but shuddered at what life would have been like for them if she hadn't. "Just because you know the right buttons to push to set her off, doesn't mean that you must use them every single day, child. You know how she is, her revenge will be tenfold."
"All duly noted," Charlene muttered in annoyance, more so with Maggie than Adele. Charlene was really very kind-hearted once you got under the thick protective barrier that she had built around herself. On many occasions the young blonde witch had tried to extend an olive branch with Maggie, but the hot-tempered young woman was either too proud or stubborn to make any effort at friendship even though they had been stuck together for years.
Thinking that the worst was over, Caroline picked up her fork and started to eat again. "This is really very good, you never got the chance to tell me what it is."
"I'm glad you like it. It's just your standard breakfast of eggs, grits, home fries, and sausage but with a Cajun flair. It's just something I threw together with whatever we had left over, it's about time to head to the market again." Char took a breath after her long explanation and took a drink of what looked like milk. "Have you ever been to New Orleans before?"
"Nope. I have never been more than a few hundred miles outside of my hometown really." Caroline wished that she had more time to travel before her death, she was promised forever as a vampire and ended up dead, a hybrid, and in a strange city with stranger witches instead.
"Well I'm sure that Charlene would be happy to take you to the market with her some time and also show you around New Orleans. She knows the city like the back of her hand, and between her power and your new situation, I have no worries about you two being safe." Adelaide trusted Charlene to not only protect herself but also control herself when it came to going out in town alone. It wasn't accustomed for ladies to be on the streets of New Orleans without an escort, but this town was unlike any other.
The elder witch remembered the day she had found the young blonde girl, alone and not understanding her powers at the tender age of seventeen. Charlene Davis came from an aristocratic background, daughter to an affluent family and wanting for nothing, but Charlene didn't want to be treated any differently just because of her social standing.
"What a splendid idea," Char clapped her hands, happy to finally be in the company of someone other than Maggie. "We will be the safest ladies in the city and have the best of times."
Adele wasn't always a worrywart, but she wanted to make sure that the young witch understood the rules. "You remember not to use magic unless there is no other option and whatever you do, keep her away from him. He is not to know what she is." She finished her statement with a pointed stare.
Caroline was even more confused, when would anyone just give her a straight answer? She played with her food for a moment but couldn't help but ask, "Who is this man you have to keep me from, and do you all know what I am? Is it that obvious?"
The two witches shared a glance before Charlene spoke. "Adele is very experienced and can sense what you are. She made sure to tell us before you were brought into the house." Charlene took another bite of her food, ignoring the first part of Caroline's question.
"And the man..." Caroline pushed.
With a sigh, Adele finally cracked. "He calls himself the King of New Orleans, but it is self-proclaimed. Vampires follow him and witches fear him. You would do best to keep your distance."
Only half satisfied with the answer, Caroline didn't push further since that is the clearest answer she had gotten from anyone since her death. "So you know that I am a hybrid?"
Coming over from the Other Side as a vampire or even a human would not have been so bad, but having the werewolf gene added to her already undead body was the last thing she expected. She felt like she was lost in a sea of the unknown, and there is no one around to call out to for help. The ladies that sat around the table with her kind as they might be, had no idea of what she had gone through to get here and she had never felt so alone in her problems than now.
"Yes we do, but don't let that worry you. Though there is very little known about your condition, it is foretold that you have the ability to shift at will and we can provide you with blood." Adelaide took the plates from in front of everyone and made her way into the kitchen for a second.
"How long have I been here?" She asked Charlene, just above a whisper.
"Two days come sundown."
"Two days!" Caroline exclaimed. She had been out for that long?
"Let's keep screeching to a minimum, darling. I have sensitive hearing." The same charming accented voice from the other night rang familiar in Caroline's head. It was the last person she expected; the images of his smug smirk, dark eyes, and boyish face were still fresh in her memory.
"You!" Caroline breathed, "Will I ever escape you?"
"There is no escaping Kol Mikaelson, sweetheart." He gave her one of his signature smiles and winked at her.
Caroline scoffed and rolled her eyes.
"Don't try to pretend that I don't drive you wild." He purred effortlessly using his charm as he took strides to Caroline's direction. He had been hiding out in the kitchen while they ate breakfast, only slipping into the dining room when Adele passed him in the hallway that connects the two rooms.
Caroline rolled her eyes again. "Yes, you drive me wild with frustration!"
Kol ignored her comment, taking the seat next to her and propping his feet up on the table. Caroline shot up from her seat. "You broke my neck!"
"I'm very sorry about that, darling," he drawled reaching out for a piece of buttered toast, "and yet I'm not. It was the only way to get you to corporate. You had that look in your eye like you were about to run." Kol followed the blonde with his eyes as she started to pace the room. "I'm sure these lovely witches here have explained that New Orleans is not safe for you."
Caroline wanted to wipe that smug look right off of his face, and if she were really honest with herself, she would love nothing more than to go all hybrid on his Original ass.
"Kol," Adelaide called his name with warning, not thrilled with his antics this early in the morning.
"Ah, Adele. You look ravishing as always." He sauntered over to her being his normal flirtatious self. She never fell for his tricks, but that didn't keep him from trying.
Perhaps it was mommy issues or knowing that they had more fight in them that Kol's fascination with the witches sprouted from. He gingerly took Adele's hand in his and placed a playful kiss on the back of it. Knowing where this was going, she snatched her hand away from him. "I don't think so, mister. That didn't work on me in the past and it sure as hell isn't going to work on me now."
Adele's rejections only fueled his fire, turning his smug smirk into an amused expression as his eyes glanced to Charlene. He licked his lips taking in the witch appearance today, and imagining how she would taste. He wondered what it was about these women that just drove him mad with desire. Sure any old human or vampire would do it for him in a pinch, but there was something about a witch that made him unable to think clearly.
"As I live and breathe Miss Charlene, you have certainly blossomed well," he said beguiling her, but it only made her nervous. She knew there was more to him than this respectful, albeit charming gentlemanly behavior. Kol was menacing, unstable, and at times unreasonable, easily going from respectful gentleman to direct and aggressive.
Charlene was a decent witch, but was still learning to refine the raw power she held in herself. If Charlene were ever to go up against an Original vampire, it would be a bad result for her in the long run. She nervously bit her lip in order to not show any fear.
"Thank you Kol." Charlene didn't know how Adelaide did it, paying no mind to his advances. She was also shocked watching Caroline held her ground with the dangerous vampire. Sure, regular vampires wouldn't be a problem for her, but the Original was a whole different matter entirely.
"Kol, I hope you didn't come just to flirt with my girls, so speak your purpose." Adele crossed her arms over chest, leaning against the doorframe between the kitchen and dining room. This is when she saw the flicker of seriousness cross his face. It was a foreign look coming from him, who was usually fun and games.
"Poor Adele, never letting us have any fun," he jested. "Very well. I might as well get on to business since I didn't just come here to see your lovely faces."
"Your charms won't work here Kol, just get on with it," Magdalena's voice held much disdain as she spoke to the vampire.
She disliked Kol slightly more than others thought with his good looks, charm, and his inability to be killed. She held a special place in her heart for the hatred towards him. However, the feelings were mutual between them. He enjoyed a challenge but going after Maggie would be more like a chore, but this did not stop him from annoying the witch.
"Well, will you look at what the cat drug in," He snorted at Maggie's displeased expression.
"Don't you have someone else that you could be bothering at this moment?" Maggie shot back.
Maggie took great pride in not being afraid of Kol. To her, all vampires were reckless bloodthirsty monsters, and he was no better; if anything, he was worse. Adelaide worried that this grandiose way of thinking could one day get Maggie in a lot of trouble. May even be the death of the young witch.
"But you are my favorite witch to bother." Becoming bored with their banter, Kol decided to focus back on Adele and the strange young woman he had found in the woods two nights ago.
"If you two are done being childish, can I please get some answers?" Caroline had heard about Kol's tricks back in Mystic Falls and after her run in with Maggie this morning, she knew that this back and forth could go on all day.
"I'm here as a bearer of bad news, unfortunately." Kol said, finally taking his seat at the table again.
Adele knew that Kol often blew things out of proportion, but something in his tone made her think that he was telling the truth, "This isn't another one of your boy-who-cried-wolf schemes again is it?"
"Interesting choice of words, considering the company you keep and what is coming, but no this is real." Kol started taking a sip of tea that was left on the table. "This is completely driven by self-preservation."
"Who is your source?"
"The King himself."
Alarm crossed Adele's face as a pregnant silence resided in the room. No one uttered a single word; though Caroline wished they would for she had no idea was could possible get them this upset.
"It's probably just chatter like last time, he hasn't been back here in decades." Charlene pointed out, trying to lighten the tension in the room.
Kol ignored the blonde witch and kept speaking to Adelaide in a serious tone. "Marcel told me personally. You know very well what a selfish bastard he is. There is no way he is going to give up his throne, he's preparing for a fight."
She did know, all too well, "Marcel is rarely afraid of anything, but this—if he is gathering troops, it must be true."
"All he told me was, the wolf is returning to try to take back what is his. This can't be mistaken for anything else. Marcel calls himself the King, but we all know who built New Orleans." Kol looked around the room, the witches knew the history of this town, but the new coming just sat looking partly confused and bored. "This is not just going to be a problem for Marcel and his guard, but for all of us. We may be blood, but he will not spare me any consideration after how we parted ways."
Kol's words finally started to come together for Caroline, the last statement making it clear who they were speaking of. Apprehension filled her gut, not only at seeing him again, but also who he was at this time seemed to be so far from the man she knew in Mystic Falls.